Picture this scenario. Say you leave your kids with a babysitter for the night. Obviously, the babysitter does not have legal authority to have custody of your child. He or she is simply there watching your child temporarily.
Now, imagine you did not return that night–for whatever reason. You did not come back. The babysitter also cannot find your spouse. Now what?
The babysitter waits a few hours, calls her parents, no one knows what to do, so they call the police. What will the police do?
The police may try to find next of kin. The police may ask if the babysitter can take home the kids. But, importantly, the Child Protective Unit must conduct a home study. That takes time. Any hearing could not go forward until at least the next morning.
What occurs that night? That is where foster homes come into play.
I cannot speak for you. For me, that is not an option. I think that the last thing your child needs is a strange home full of strangers. Imagine how difficult that would be for even you to do. These foster parents, although most certainly good people, do not know your child, his/her likes or dislikes, and your child is not in his/her own home. It is a traumatic experience. And it is avoidable! Why wouldn’t you take the steps to try to avoid this scenario?
The Kid Care Package is intended to help you avoid that scenario as much as possible. This is like you informing the Judge yourself as to your #1 choice of guardian. You are speaking on the topic NOW in case you cannot speak on it later. You have a voice. Use it!
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